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Loved the Triumph!

Sail Date:
October 2011

Destination:
Western Caribbean

Embarkation:
Galveston

Sailed on the Carnival Triumph Oct 24th for a 5 night Cruise. At embarkation we learned boarding had been delayed a bit due to a full crew inspection. We also learned while sitting in the terminal that the Captain was keeping close watch on a little storm named Rina.

Boarding started around 1230 so all was good. I have to say I've cruised a number of times on Carnival (this was #22) but was a bit concerned as lately it seems nothing good was being said about the Triumph! WOW did I worry for no reason! This was our 2nd annual Girls Cruise, there were six of us ranging from mid 40's to early 50's. We were in 3 balcony cabins on deck 7, two cabins next to each other on the port side and 1 on the starboard side. Those of us on the Port side had wonderful Cabin Stewards, they learned our names the 1st day and always called us by name. Our cabins were kept very clean and we even had 2 towel animals (one on each bed) 3 of the 5 nights. The cabin on the starboard side More
didn't have such good luck they felt their steward only did the basics and they only found a towel animal after asking for one!

Before leaving Galveston we also knew there could be a change in our Cruise due to Rina. The Captain and Tex the Cruise Director did a very good job of keeping us informed the entire cruise. We did end up switching the ports around going to Cozumel 1st and Progreso 2nd. Also our stay in Cozumel was short 8am to 2pm. But it really was not a big deal as it could have been much worse. The Legend ended up in the ports with us they missed Grand Cayman, went to Belize and Cozumel and had Progreso added as a port. Talked to a lot of folks off both ships and most were OK with the changes after all we were still on a Cruise, had port calls and were being kept well informed of the changes.

This was my first Cruise with the new menu in the MDR and found the changes to be not all that bad. The food was prepared well, tasted GREAT and was always hot when it arrived at the table. We had table 104 in the London Dining Room our wait team was outstanding! They were fun, provided excellent service and kept us laughing all week. The M/D was at the door every night greeting people as they arrived and stopped by our table every night. Haven't had a M/D this good in a number of cruises and I heard from others the M/D in the other dining room was also very visible each night.

Found the crew all over the ship to be friendly and fun. Some may have a bit of a frown at first but after speaking with them it always changed to a smile. For some adjusting from NOLA to Galveston was a challenge as they had to find their way around in a "new" homeport but being from the Island I gave a lot of info to them. Some didn't realize that right across from the terminal there was a Starbucks with free Internet service (one bar tender was all smiles when he found this out as he now could go Skype and see his wife and son) or that the Strand area also had free wi-fi service and a number of little shops and places to grab a bite to eat off the ship. Found out that some of the crew were also scheduled to be on other ships but at the last minute were reassigned to the Triumph. And yes I know it's their job to go where ever Carnival sends them but none of us really like changes esp. the ones we have no control over. I feel given time they will grow to love Galveston as much as the crews on the Ecstasy and Conquest did/do.

The shows were excellent the biggest surprise was 3 major production shows on a 5 night cruise! As they had been doing 7 night cruises from NOLA and had the costumes and routines down, they do an extra show.

Over all it was a great Cruise and I plan on sailing aboard the Triumph again in the future and have no reservations about telling others to book a cruise on her also. Less